AirMagnet

AirMagnet was a wireless-network assurance company based in Sunnyvale, California, focused on software and instruments for designing, monitoring, securing, and troubleshooting enterprise Wi-Fi networks. Founded in 2001 by Dean T. Au, Chia-Chee Kuan, and Miles Wu, the company shipped its first wireless LAN analyzer in 2002. Its products addressed the operational difficulties of enterprise WLANs, including radio-frequency interference, coverage and capacity problems, configuration errors, performance degradation, unauthorized access points, and security-policy violations. The company developed a broad portfolio rather than a single wireless-analysis application. Its offerings included wireless site-survey tools, laptop-based analyzers, spectrum analyzers, handheld analyzers, network-management and troubleshooting systems, and products for wireless intrusion detection and prevention. AirMagnet also supported voice-over-Wi-Fi deployments, where reliability, roaming, interference, and quality-of-service requirements can be more demanding than those of ordinary data networks. In August 2006, it shipped the Vo-Fi Analyzer, described in contemporary coverage as the first voice-over-Wi-Fi analyzer able to operate on encrypted VoWLAN networks. AirMagnet’s customer and technology positioning was enterprise-oriented. Its tools were intended for network administrators, security teams, wireless engineers, and service organizations that needed visibility into WLAN behavior beyond what conventional access-point management interfaces provided. The portfolio included capabilities associated with wireless access-point management through LWAPP, as well as wireless intrusion detection and wireless intrusion prevention. The company was backed by venture investors including Intel Capital, Acer Technology Ventures, and VenGlobal. In August 2009, Fluke Networks acquired AirMagnet. The acquisition placed the AirMagnet portfolio within a larger network-test and monitoring business. Fluke Networks subsequently became part of NetScout, and the AirMagnet name continued to be associated with different portions of the former product portfolio. In September 2018, NetScout divested its handheld network-testing tools business to StoneCalibre; the transaction included AirMagnet Mobile solutions. StoneCalibre later launched the acquired handheld-testing products as NetAlly in August 2019. NetScout retained the AirMagnet Enterprise product line, which covered wireless intrusion-prevention-system monitoring solutions. Because the available reference material does not establish a current standalone corporate structure, current headquarters, a current consumer-facing website, or a single present-day owner for every AirMagnet product line, AirMagnet is best treated as a historically significant enterprise wireless-network technology brand with products distributed across successor businesses rather than as a clearly documented independent company today.

AirMagnet was founded in 2001 in Sunnyvale, California, by Dean T. Au, Chia-Chee Kuan, and Miles Wu. The company entered the market as enterprise wireless networking was becoming more important but remained difficult to design and operate. Administrators needed specialized tools to map radio coverage, identify interference, validate access-point placement, analyze protocol behavior, and investigate security problems. AirMagnet’s business was built around this need for independent visibility into WLAN environments. The company shipped its first WLAN analyzer in 2002. Over time, it expanded from analyzer software into a wider wireless-assurance portfolio. Its products included site-survey applications, laptop analyzers, spectrum-analysis tools, handheld analyzers, network-management and troubleshooting systems, and wireless intrusion-detection and intrusion-prevention products. The portfolio was aimed at professional users responsible for enterprise networks rather than at residential Wi-Fi consumers. Some products also supported wireless access-point management through LWAPP. AirMagnet developed particular expertise in the analysis of voice-over-Wi-Fi deployments. These environments require attention to roaming, radio interference, latency, packet loss, coverage, and security because wireless performance can directly affect telephone conversations. In August 2006, the company shipped its Vo-Fi Analyzer, reported as the first voice-over-Wi-Fi analyzer capable of being used on encrypted VoWLAN networks. This extended AirMagnet’s role from general WLAN diagnostics into specialized validation of wireless voice systems. The company received venture backing from investors including Intel Capital, Acer Technology Ventures, and VenGlobal. Contemporary trade coverage described AirMagnet as a supplier of wireless monitoring and security technology at a time when enterprises were increasing their dependence on Wi-Fi and facing growing concerns about unauthorized access, rogue devices, and wireless intrusion. In August 2009, Fluke Networks acquired AirMagnet. The transaction integrated AirMagnet’s wireless-analysis and security capabilities into Fluke Networks’ network-testing business. Fluke Networks later became part of NetScout, creating a succession path through which the AirMagnet product name remained attached to selected wireless-network tools. A later portfolio separation divided the products among different businesses. On September 14, 2018, NetScout divested its handheld network-testing tools business to private-equity firm StoneCalibre. AirMagnet Mobile solutions were included in that transaction, while NetScout retained the AirMagnet Enterprise product line associated with wireless intrusion-prevention-system monitoring. On August 14, 2019, StoneCalibre launched the acquired handheld-testing products as NetAlly. Consequently, AirMagnet’s historical product family no longer maps neatly to one independently documented operating company: mobile and handheld offerings moved into the NetAlly business, while enterprise WIPS monitoring remained with NetScout. The available sources do not provide enough information to describe a current standalone AirMagnet corporate organization or a complete current product catalog.

• 2019

  Acquired handheld products become NetAlly

  [1]AirMagneten.wikipedia.org

  StoneCalibre launched the acquired handheld network-testing products under the new NetAlly company.

• 2018

  AirMagnet Mobile moves to StoneCalibre

  [1]AirMagneten.wikipedia.org

  NetScout divested its handheld network-testing business, including AirMagnet Mobile solutions, to StoneCalibre; AirMagnet Enterprise remained with NetScout.

• 2009

  Acquired by Fluke Networks

  [1]AirMagneten.wikipedia.org

  Fluke Networks acquired AirMagnet and incorporated its wireless-assurance capabilities into its network-testing portfolio.

• 2006

  Vo-Fi Analyzer ships

  [1]AirMagneten.wikipedia.org

  AirMagnet introduced a voice-over-Wi-Fi analyzer capable of analyzing encrypted VoWLAN networks.

• 2002

  First WLAN analyzer ships

  [1]AirMagneten.wikipedia.org

  AirMagnet shipped its first wireless LAN analyzer, establishing its core enterprise-network analysis business.

• 2001

  AirMagnet is founded

  [1]AirMagneten.wikipedia.org

  Dean T. Au, Chia-Chee Kuan, and Miles Wu founded the wireless-network assurance company in Sunnyvale, California.

Enterprise wireless-network assurance, WLAN visibility, security monitoring, site surveying, performance analysis, and troubleshooting

• enterprise wireless-network software

  Wireless site-survey tools

  Tools for planning and validating WLAN deployments by examining wireless coverage, access-point placement, signal conditions, and related deployment factors. They were intended for professional network engineers designing or auditing enterprise wireless environments.

• wireless network analysis software

  Laptop analyzers

  Laptop-based analysis applications used to inspect wireless traffic and diagnose WLAN performance, configuration, and connectivity problems. The products provided more detailed operational information than ordinary client-facing Wi-Fi utilities.

• radio-frequency analysis

  Spectrum analyzers

  Specialized tools for examining radio-frequency conditions affecting wireless networks. Their role included helping professionals identify interference and other environmental factors that could reduce WLAN reliability or capacity.

• voice-over-Wi-Fi analysis · 2006

  Vo-Fi Analyzer

  An analyzer for voice-over-Wi-Fi deployments. AirMagnet shipped the product in 2006 and positioned it for analysis of encrypted VoWLAN environments, where wireless coverage, roaming, interference, and service quality affect voice communications.

• wireless intrusion prevention and monitoring

  AirMagnet Enterprise

  An enterprise product line associated with wireless intrusion-prevention-system monitoring. Following the 2018 divestiture of the handheld business, this product line was retained by NetScout.

• mobile network-testing tools

  AirMagnet Mobile

  A group of mobile or handheld network-testing solutions included in NetScout’s 2018 divestiture of its handheld testing business to StoneCalibre. The acquired handheld portfolio was subsequently associated with NetAlly.

• 2019

  Launch of NetAlly from the acquired handheld portfolioStrategy

  Background

  StoneCalibre had acquired NetScout’s handheld network-testing business, including AirMagnet Mobile solutions.

  Action taken

  StoneCalibre launched the acquired products as a new company, NetAlly, on August 14, 2019.

  Aftermath

  The move further separated the mobile and handheld product heritage from the AirMagnet Enterprise products retained by NetScout.

  Source

• 2018

  NetScout divests handheld testing businessM&A

  Background

  NetScout reorganized its network-testing portfolio and separated its handheld network-testing tools business from the AirMagnet Enterprise WIPS monitoring line.

  Action taken

  NetScout sold the handheld network-testing business, including AirMagnet Mobile solutions, to StoneCalibre on September 14, 2018.

  Aftermath

  StoneCalibre subsequently launched the acquired handheld products as NetAlly, while NetScout retained AirMagnet Enterprise.

  Source

• 2009

  Fluke Networks acquires AirMagnetM&A

  Background

  AirMagnet had built a portfolio spanning WLAN analysis, security, site surveying, troubleshooting, and wireless voice diagnostics.

  Action taken

  Fluke Networks completed the acquisition of AirMagnet in August 2009.

  Aftermath

  AirMagnet’s wireless products became part of Fluke Networks’ wider network-testing business, which later became associated with NetScout.

  Source

1. 1AirMagneten.wikipedia.org